Hollow block for building purposes.



F. BURCHARTZ.

HOLLOW BLOCK FOR BUILDING PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1910- 1 ,2 1 5, 1 O6. Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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F. BURCHARTZ.

HOLLOW BLOCK FOR BUILDING PURPOSES.

APPUCATION FILED OCT- 12. I910.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

FERDINAND BURCHARTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. -Y., ASSIGNOR TO BURCHAR'IZ FIREPROOF- ING COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEV/ YORK.

HOLLOW BLOCK non BUILDING runrosns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed October .12, 1910. Serial No. 586,608.

My invention relates to" hollow blocks for building purposes. and' -has'forits,

object to provide a means for, closingthe open ends of said blocks, and to make said blocks and closing means as separate elements which may be easily and quickly combined thus simplifyingthe manufacture and cheapening the cost thereof, besides making it possible to use said blocks with or without the end closing means as may be desired. My invention is further designed to construct the blocks so that they maybe readily and equally spaced from each other with'the axes of adjacent blocks extending at an angle to each other if desired, to secure two way channels for the accommodation of re'-.

inforcing rods. My invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of, novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims. 1

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure'l is alongitudinal section of my improvedblock on the line 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1; Figs; 3'

and 1 are cross and longitudinal sectionsre spectively of another form ofmy invention; Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sections of two additional forms of my construction; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the closing plate used in connection with the block shown in Fig. 6; Fig; 8 is a longitudinal section of yet another form of my block; Fig. 9 is a cross section of a portion of a floor or ceilingshowing: use of the block shown in Fig.8; FigQlO'is a plan view thereof with the binder omitted and Fig'fl-l is'a view similar to Fig. 9 show-- ing blocks of-th'e kind illustrated in Figs. 8 9 and 10' with'the axes-thereof extending parallel to 'each other instead of at an angle as in Figs."9 and 10.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the tubular block 10 is provided with a wall 11 through which a channel or recess 12 extends lengthwise and parallel with the axial opening '12 of the.

block; This channel 12 serves to accommodate the one end of closing plates 13 which are inserted into opposite ends of said channel for a certain distance and then bent at substantially right angles to completely close or coverthe-opposite open ends of the axial openlng 12? or in other words the open ends of theblock. These plates 13 are preferably made of metal so as to be easily manipulated .as above described. Instead of having two separate plates 13, a single plate may be substituted and passed through the channel 12 so as to have its opposite ends projectlng beyond the opposite ends of said channel 12. These projecting ends are then bentat an-angle in the samemanner as here inbefore mentioned to cover the open ends of the block. The channel 12 is preferably av trifle Wider than the width of the axial opening 12 of the block so as to be capable of. accommodatinga plate or plates 13 a trifle wider than said axial opening. Similarly the portions of the plate or plates left projecting beyond the opposite ends of the channel 12 should preferably be of sufficient length so that when bent as described thefree end thereof .will extend beyond the said axial opening of. the block. Thus when the end plates are in position they will overlap the said axial. opening 12 throughout its periphery andcompletely close said open ends against the admission of mortar or other binding agent.

In the formof my invention shown in Figs 3 and; 4 the channel 12 is replaced by a dove tail open recess or channel '14: which extends lengthwise of the Wall 11 also parallel with the axial opening 12 and serves to receive means for closing the opposite ends of the opening 12"-. These closing means may be. the same as those shown and described with regard to Fig. 1, that is a plate orplatesl3, applied and used in the same way although I may also employ the specific arrangement illustrated best in Fig. 4. In this illustration a continuous strip of fabric 145 such as burlap, canvas or the like islocated in the recess let ofeach adjacent block and passes across the open ends of the axial openings 12 beneath a strip la located between adjacent blocks at the bottom of channels 14 formed by arranging said blocks in spaced relation to each other on the usual temporary support. These strips 1e are preferably made of the same material of whichthe block is composed and extend throughout the channels. 14 either continuously or'at intervals. The said strips 14 serve by their weight. to maintain the fabric 14* in'a taut condition that is under tension across the, open ends ofcach block so as to" prevent the cement'or other binder l l 'from forcing said fabric into said'bloclgs, the fabric thus serving to exclude said binder 14 from the interior of the block.

-When the cementor other binder is introduced into the channels 14= it first covers the said strips 14 and thus by its weight r of the drawings it will be seen that two opprevents the pressure of the binder which is subsequently introduced from lifting said strips as pressure is exerted on the fabric at points opposite the open endsof the blocks. Otherwise this form of block is the same as the one illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5 the dove tail channel or recess 14 instead of being located on the outer surface of the wall 11 and facing outward is located on the inner face of said wall 11 and faces inward. It is to be understood that end plates 13 of the same general type and relative dimensions as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings may also be used in connection with the form of construction shown in Fig. 5. V r

Referringn'ow more particularly to Fig. 6

posite walls 11 of the block are each provided with an outwardly facing dove tailed recess or channel 15 extending lengthwise of my invention so far described the channel or dove tailed recess need not extend throughout the entire length of theblock, but may only extend inwardly a distance 7 from each end in the nature of separate channels or recesses. It is to be understood that if desired instead of the plate or plates 13 a fabric closing medium of the kind shown in Figs. 3 and 1 may also be used in connection with the forms of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6. 1

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10am} 11 the block 10 in addition to having a channel 12" corresponding to the channel 12 of Fig. 1 is provided with a preferably integral projection 21 extending longitudinally of the upper surface of the block and preferably provided with a chan- 'nel 21 projecting lengthwise of the projection. The width of this projection is somewhat less than the width of the block and said projection is preferably arranged in the center of said block which extends equally to each side thereof. End closing devices of the same kind as hereinbefore described that is inetal or other plates or strips of fabric are also used in connection with this form of blockto seal the open ends thereof in the same way as already brought out.

The blocks in all the forms of my invention are preferably formed with flanges 22 extending parallel with the axis at opposite lower edges of each block. Thus when the blocks are set up on the temporary scaffold ing these flanges serve to equally space the. blocks to form channels hereinbefore re-' said channels and in some cases also to cover the upper surfaces of the blocks. This binding agent will 'enter'any space between the closing devices and the blocks .and will thus securely bind the blocks and various end closing devices into single solid structures. If theblock illustrated in Figs. 8, 9,10 and 11 is used the projections 21 will interrupt the cement or other binder 14 which covers the upper surfaces of each block to each side of its projection 21, but is flush with the nppersurfacc of said projections. Some of the binder will enter partly into the channelsfil and serve to more firmly bind the entire elei'nents into. a single solid structure. If desired, however, the blocks particularly when the form shown in Fig. 8 is shown best in Fig. 9 the binder in the channels is in the shape of an inverted L although as someof said binder enters partly into the channels 21 a substantially T shaped cement or other beam is also secured. The said binder, however, in all formsof my invention is prevented by the end closing devices from reaching the main portion of the interior of the block and also serves to securely lock said devices in operative position. A light and very strong and durable floor or ceiling construction of great carrying and resisting power is thus secured. It is of course to be understood that material other than metal may be used in constructing the various forms of end closing plates.

Furthermore instead of being solid said closing plates might be made of Wire netting or other perforated or foraminated material. In the forms shown in Figs. 3, A, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the closing plates or fabric as the case may be and the recesses or channels for the accommodation thereof are so proportioned as to overlap the periphery of and thus completely close the open ends of each block in the same manner as described with regard to Figs. 1 and 2.

It is to be understood that the term tubular block as used in the. claims is used in a broad sense and is intended to cover a block of any cross sectional configuration or shape.

It is further to be understood that all forms of my closing devices be used in conjunction with ordinary open ended blocks. In other words the various recess or channel forming means may be entirely omitted. When used with such blocks the plates 13, etc., are simply placed over the open ends of the block with the horizontal portion of such plates in engagement with the upper surface of the block, or in case the fabric closure is used, this fabric is simply stretched or laid over said upper surface and then brought down over the open ends of the block in the same manner as shown and described with regard to Figs. 3 and 4c of the drawings.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A building block provided with an axially extending opening, and a closure comprising a substantially rectangular member of substantially even'dimensions throughout and of greater width than said opening said member being shaped to form a substantially right angled element, one leg of which lies in surface engagement with an axial surface of said block and the other leg of which extends over an open end of the axial opening whereby the latter is completely covered.

2. A building block provided with an axially extending opening and a channel located above the same, said channel being greater in width than said opening and being less in vertical dimension, and a closure comprising a substantially rectangular member of substantially even dimensions throughout and shaped to form a substantially right angled element, one leg of said element extending into and fitting said channel and the other leg extending over an open end of the axial opening whereby the latter is completely covered.

3. In a floor or ceiling construction, a series of open ended blocks arranged in rows in axial alinement and spaced from each other to form channels, a continuous strip of fabric extending lengthwise of each row along one face of the blocks therein, across the open ends thereof and across the channels below the end openings of the blocks and means in said channels for maintaining the strips under tension against and across said open ends.

4. In a floor or ceiling construction the combination of a plurality of blocks arranged in rows and spaced apart to form intersecting channels, said blocks being each provided with a plurality of axially extending passages, beams of coalescent material in said channels and engaging said blocks on all sides and extending into some of said passages and means for closing the other passages against the entrance of coalescent material.

5. A building block provided with an axially extending opening and a channel extending parallel therewith, and a closure comprising a substantially rectangular member shaped to form a substantially right angled element, one leg of which extends into said channel and the other leg of which extends over an open end of the axial opening whereby the latter is closed.

Ir testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FERDINAND BURCHARTZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. KEHLENBECK, LoUIs ALEXANDER.

Copies. of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

